Maps of the Human Heart

Heart-shaped maps are one thing, but maps of the human heart are quite another, and I’ve got both on this Valentine’s Day. The charting of emotional territory, as opposed to physical space, has resulted in the production of several interesting maps from the seventeenth century to the near-present. Below are the companion Map of the Open Country of a Woman’s Heart and Map of the Fortified Country of a Man’s Heart, ostensibly and anonymously drawn “by a lady” and published by the Kellogg Brothers of Hartford, Connecticut in the 1830s. These heart maps, along with lots of other examples of the Kellogg’s impressive lithography, can be viewed at the online gallery of the Connecticut Historical Society and Museum.

I’ve brightened and cropped both maps so that you can better see the different regions that make up these human hearts. It’s very interesting that the woman’s heart is an “open” country while the man’s is a walled fort. Money seems to take up a lot of territory in the man’s heart while outward appearances dominate the woman’s; romance and sentiment take up space but love is referenced only with power, ease, eating, dress and admiration! Matrimony is very clearly outside of the man’s heart (whereas the “citadel of self-love” is inside).

These heart maps seem to be fusing together two cartographical trends from the early modern era: the cordiform map, in which actual places are displayed in a heart-shaped map, and allegorical maps, which use map formats but dispense with the places altogether in order to put forth the message, often in caricature. The most famous world map with a cordiform projection, the Nova, et Universi Orbis Descriptio of Oronce Fine, was published in a succession of early modern atlases after its initial appearance in 1531.

As for the allegorical, two very sentimental maps were published in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: the carte de tendre, a road map to and through the country of “tenderness” first published in Madeleine de Scudery’s novel Clelie in 1654, and the “Empire of Love” map published by German typographer Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf in 1777.

The Carte de Tendre: beware of the “Lake of Indifference” and “Dangerous Sea”!

The Empire of Love: proceeding from the “land of youth” at the bottom, northward to the “land of lust”, and then easterly to the “land of happy love” (hopefully).

Even after the turn of the twentieth century, emotional maps continued to be published in various formats. I found a Brazilian postcard from 1904 in a collector’s forum along with a locally-made map of “Loveland” in the collection of the Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library (part of their ongoing exhibition of “unconventional maps”), and two heart maps that are clearly based on the Kellogg prints which were first published in McCall’s Magazine in 1960 and reprinted in the fascinating book by Katherine Harmon, You are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination (Princeton Architectural Press, 2004).

A map of “Loveland” by Ernest Dudley Chase dating from 1943; it doesn’t scan very well, but a zoom feature is available at the BPL map site. Lots of very 1940s-ish cartoon characters.

Geographical Guide to a Woman's Heart Emphasizing Points of Interest to the Romantic Traveler: illustration by Jo Lowrey for McCall' s Magazine, 1960

Geographical Guide to a Man's Heart with Obstacles and Entrances: illustration by Jo Lowrey for McCall's Magazine, 1960

Times and sentiments change; I think we’re about due for an updated map of the human heart.

Happy Heart Day to you, Donna. YOu’ve brought a whole other angle to the shape of the heart with this great entry–how little I knew about my heart–its selfishness, its need for affectation, for admiration, for having the latest fashions, why it’s so full of sentiment, I can’t begin to express what my heart is doing at the moment–why, I am….fainting……Please be mine? Debbie

These are spectacular! As someone who enjoys the snarkier side of romance (my latest post offers V-Day gift ideas for the cynical and jaded, for example), I loved the differences in the “Man’s heart” versus “Woman’s heart.”

Stereotypes were abundant to be sure, but what a fun approach. Thank you for sharing something truly different this V-Day!

Reblogged this on Dr. Larry F. James DDS and commented:
Really beautiful allegorical maps of the heart – perfect for an intellectually stimulating Valentines Day! Hoping each of our friends have a wonderful day, whether you spend it with a loved one or enjoy a quiet night of chocolates and movies with a friend!

Fascinating! I had no idea such a thing as an emotional map even existed. I love maps, could spend hours drooling over these (to the detriment of their preservation). They are beautiful. Congrats on being freshly pressed 🙂

i do wonder if much has really changed since those first maps, regarding the heart? just because culture changes, does it mean our basic wants and needs regarding love and affection does as well? lots to think on. I liked the “beware of the land of indifference.” how true! great post and images.

Fascinating and Inspiring! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed. I wrote an article titled; The Man I love; Happy Valentine’s Day!!. Very intersting article. Visit my blog the goldenfingers. I would love to hear your comment(s).

Reblogged this on The Road Not Taken and commented:
It is a few days early for me to be posting a “geek-out Sunday” article but this great post from Donna Seger is too good to not share. These maps of the human heart are beautiful and humorous examples of 19th century geekery.

I thnk an up to date map will have a larger love of self area and more obstacles to get into the love areas. The materialistic areas will be larger for sure.
A very fun and intersting post! I wonder how they compare to the ancient maps of our organs and emotions?

yeah, very funny! I talked about the maps with some other artists at my work space today. There were some interesting ideas of new contemporary areas. It takes a while for visualisation. So much ideas and fields of emotion… I will give you an update soon.

The remarks of human negotiation in context of love that is always dynamic. Incredible. Such a perfect species we are.
The excellent question is, how is the map of human heart nowadays?
Thanks for the knowledge anyway…

Hmmm. These maps should be included in the “Human Physiology” text books. After all we read the presence of SA nodes and AV nodes residing inside the myocardium, what’s the harm in adding these maps then 🙂 Excellent work. Thanks for sharing.

!!!
This is very good, but it should later be turned into various posts, partly because of most bloggers’ attention span, but mainly because everybody’s memory is so full of crap that nothing good or bad gets in anymore.

Thank you for your post of the beautiful maps. I loved it so much that I shared it on my facebook, and a friend already re-shared it on her wall. It made my Valentine’s Day what it is: shareing of hearts!

What a wonderful post, I hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day! I love maps (remnant of an architectural education) and I think I’d been aware of heart maps in a vague way but these are brilliant all collected in one place – I want to go and find the books you mention too. Thank you for sharing something beautiful and educational and congrats on making Freshly Pressed! I’m looking forward to browsing through your other posts.

I’ve heard about Phrenology and the points on the skull, but the heart: these are wonderful. I love old maps of any kind, so this just adds a great dimension. They’d look amazing framed and given pride of place on any wall.

Very interesting, and timely. As a landscape architect, I am interested in how physical space and emotion interact. Like all expressive therapies, I feel that physical space can help us locate what is in our hearts and minds.So it isn’t surprising to see these emotional states mapped out, as in these early examples, as if they were physical spaces themselves. Thanks!

Reblogged this on turns of endearment and commented:
Re-logging this fresh-pressed page, if not for the sheer brilliance of making a heart-map surely because I feel I fit so snuggly to the notion f a heart-traveler . . It’s all there: the unceasing willingness to dive deep, explore or roam, the dealings with all the precarious situations of traveling (think of losing your belongings, having to go thru customs and shady travel agents, finding one’s way throughout the labyrinths of landscape, inner or outer . . Deciding, where do you wanna go and which way would take you there, does the place feel comfy or warm enough or does it leave you high and dry despite all the efforts? And, how do you feel about back-packing, or would you rather skim those lands lavishly, into a set of luxury items given in return to one’s love of not venturing beyond their comfort zone? How far can you go?

Well, to be honest, I wanted to rest but it seems it is not happening so there, back with the map thing in hand – it just is what it is and beyond . .

Thanks for opening my eyes to the amazing posibilities of maps that I’ve never dreamt of before.
Reading this I was reminded of Jonh Bunyan’s Pligrim’s Progress and the way he uses a real geographical journey and the land traveled to represent a spiritual journey.
I’m just struck by the incredible creativity of the people who made these maps. It’s inspired me to try out a few of my own.

This gives a new light to know how my heart functions and find striking link to my core values placed inside the Map…i think the sexes should possess these maps for better understanding…Thanks for this article!

Very beautiful post, how romantic to see such a ‘vintage’ insight to how the male and female hearts were portrayed. I’m now sitting here wondering how I would map out my own heart. Very thought provoking! Thank you! – Roisin. X

Reblogged this on Poems In Cursive and commented:
Poetry inspiration comes from many sourches–most often in matters of the heart. I wish you a wonderful journey as you explore these maps. May you discover what poetry they hold. 🙂

this is so interesting! thank you for sharing this. beautiful and inspiring!
i am an artist and am working with this theme, the idea of mapping emotion on giant folk art inspired flaming hearts. seeing this was a big Ahha! moment for me 🙂

Reblogged this on If I Had My Own Blue Box: and commented:
This is a fun post about some Must See illustrations. Someone posted the Map of a Woman’s Heart on FB. Thank you to Beth and Micaila for pointing out more of the story. I would Love a poster of the woman’s and man’s hearts side-by-side. I think they are such quirky fun while being an interesting insight.

[…] Geographical Guide to a Man’s Heart with Obstacles and Entrances: by Jo Lowrey for McCall’s Magazine, 1960; featured in Katharine Harmon’s book You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination; image found on streetsofsalem.com […]